Needling machine



Nnv. 7,. 1933.

P. H. WALSH NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 1 Wwf@Zio 747763] Nov. 7, 1933. P. H. WALSH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Jl ez mi.'

3 6 y @fi/0 Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QOWWLL] Nov. 7, 1933. P.H. WALSH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 7, 1933. P. H.wALsH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5a Z7 Z8 s; 6.

` O l f 14 6'0 E 15 .f5 Z4 m 6v ly?" 16 a 3 if Q /z @i L f f@ 32 O Z OJU j 2f QIj 4:0-

ff 37- @Si O C) i Z f MI 75 ,44M awf *i 5 74 y @orweg Patented Nov. 7,1933 pair NEEDLING MACHINE Patrick H; Walsh, Newtonvlle, Mass., assignerto Caro Cloth Corporation, Carolina, R. I., a corporation of DelawareApplication Mayvlg, 1930. vSerial N0. 453,428

11 Claims.

K My present invention is a novel and improved needling machineparticularly adapted for nee- -dling textile fabrics through andincorporating the same with a base fabric, as wellas with the fibresthemselves. v

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedmachine for forcing the bres which constitute the bat or web through thebase fabric in such a manner asto produce an even texture in theresultant article.

Another and important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a plurality of banks of needles, each bank being acontinuous unbroken bank, and said plurality of banks being arranged inparallelism. s

I preferably utilize two of these longitudinal banks of needles, and ndthat this use of two banks will result in a well balanced machine,reducing vibration to a minimum and operating in a smooth efficientmanner. 1 v

These two banks of needles are alternately re- 'ciprocated sothat whileone bank is descending toeiect the needling operationjthe other bank isascending, the stroke of each bank balancing the stroke of the otherbank.

' Another object of my invention resides in the novel arrangement ci theneedles in each bank. Each bank has a plurality of rows of needles, theneedles in each row being arranged in pairs, and each pair of needlesbeing staggered relative to its adjacent pairs. In this manner, on eachden scent of a bank, a large area of the fabric will be operated upon byeach bank of needles, followed in rapid sequence by the needlingoperation of the succeeding bank, which will result inthe completeneedlin'g of the entire textile fabric being fed through the machine.

Another feature of my invention resides in the novel manner in which theneedle bar holding frames are mounted, said frames being pivotallymountedto enable the same to be swung away from the fabric beingoperated upon, for thepurpose of quickly and easily removing andreplacing needles when necessary. p lfieans are also provided forlocking the needle frames in operative position, said means beingreadily operable to release said frames to permit the pivotal actionabove referred to.

Another feature oi the invention resides in the provision of novel meansto effect relative adjustment between the needle banks, so that saidbanks may be spaced a desired distance 'from each other.

, Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novelmeans to effect an orbital movement of the needle banks during theiroper..- ation. Thus, as the fabric is fed or pulled through the machine,the needles will penetrate the base fabric, forcing' the iibrestherethrough, and said needles will .travel with said fabric dur 6 ingthe interval of time necessary to effect the penetration of said needlesthrough the base fabric and their withdrawal therefrom.

Other novel features and objects of the invention reside in theparticular construction and arrangementcf various parts of my machine;

The above, and other objects and features of the invention, will behereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthepresent invention,

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of my novel needling machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on` the line 3 3. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation of one end ol' said machine; 1Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; 80

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of said machine;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View on the line '7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

- Fig. l) is a fragmentary plan view of one oi` the stripper' elements;f-

Fig. 11 is a partial plan view of one of the needle banks; Y

Fig. 12 is an end elevation lof one of the needle banks; and

Fig. 13 isk an enlarged side elevation of one of the needles utilized. Y

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of theinvention, its construction, assembly-and operation, my novel machinecomprises a pair of bases 1 irom'which extend vertical standards 2, saidstandards 'being split 4at 'their upper ends, as illustrated at 3, saidsplit portions being united by bolts 4 extending through the webs 5, alever 6 being provided to tighten or yloosen said webs as desired.

Slidable in each standard 2'is a post 7 having 05 a threaded interior 8,a threaded shaft 9 being threaded into said post 7. I

A beveled gear 10 is xed to the lower end of the shaft 9, and meshingwith said beveled gear 1o is a beveledgear 11 fixed on the shaft 12,Said U0 shaft 12 being rotated by handles 13. A bearing bracket 14 isfixed to each standard 2 by means of bolts 15, this bearing bracketbeing provided with bearings for the shafts 9 and 12, thus insuringmeshing of the gears and 11 one with the other.

A collar 16 is fixed to the shaft 9, and interposed between the collar16 and bracket 14 is a thrust bearing 17. Pivotally mounted at the topof each post 7 is a shaft 18, a bearing member 19 being clamped to theouter end of said shaft by means of a bolt 20 through the webs 2l, and acollar 22 is secured to said shaft by said screw 23 to preventlongitudinal displacement 4of .said shaft.

Pinned at each end to said shafts 18 is a casting 24, said casting 24having thereon vertically extending bearing members 25, through whichextends a crank shaft 26, said crank shaft 26 also having a bearing ateach end, in the bearing members 19.

. Adjacent .to each end ofthe crank shaft 26 is a sprocket 27, androtation Vis imparted to said crank shaft by means of chains 28, saidchains 28 being in turn driven by .sprockets 29 mounted on a shaft 30,said sprockets 29 being rotated by chains v31 traveling over sprocketslon a shaft 32 mounted in suitable bearings on a support 33, said shaft32 being ydriven from any suitable source .of power.

A link `34 'extends between the shafts 32 and 30, .and .a link `35extends between the shafts 30 and 26, these links 'being freely Vmovableon said shafts.

For convenience, the crank shaft 26 is provided with .six throws,arranged in .sets of three. As clearly shown, three of the throws ofthecrank shaft will be in their lowermost position when the other threethrows are in their uppermost vnosition.

A pair of frames 36 and 37 are provided, extending longitudinally of themachine. Each of these frames has fixed thereto by bolts 38 a pluralityof yoked vbosses 139, each of these bosses being provided with a wristpin 40. A plurality of connecting rods 41 are rotatably mounted on thecrank shaft 26, and connected Vto the wrist pins on the frame 36, and aplurality of connecting rods 42 are rotatably mounted on the crank shaft26 and connected to .the wrist pins 40 von the frame 37.

Fixed to the casting 24 by bolts 43, are a pair of blocks 44, .one Vofthe blocks being provided at each end of the casting 24. Rotatablymounted in each .block 44 .are shafts 45 and 46, fixed to which are keys47 and 48. 'Ihe frame 36 is pro- 'vided with .a keyway 49, `,and the`frame 37 is provided with a vertical recess 50 within which is mounteda shoe 5.1 .having therein a keyway 52. The keys 47 and 48 are adaptedto seat in the 'keyways 49 and 52 respectively.

The shafts 45 and 46 project above the casting 24, and fixed to .thevLipper end of the shaft 45 is a bracket 53 carrying a roller 54, andfixed to the shaft 46 is a bracket 55 carrying a roller 56. A member 57is xed to the crank shaft 26, and has therein vcam slots 58 and 59adapted to be respectively engaged by the rollers 54 and 56.

It will thus 'be apparent, that on rotation ofthe member 57, a rotativemovement will be imparted to the shafts 45 and 46, causing the keys 47and 48 to move the frames 36 and 37 back and forth laterally withrespect to the blocks 44. Y

Simultaneously therewith the crank shaft 26 will cause the .connectingrods 41 and 42 to alter- -of needles kin its row.

nately depress the frames 36 and 37, so that during the reciprocation ofthe frames 36 and 37 they will have a slight orbital movement.

Reenforcing webs 60 are fixed to the blocks 44 by bolts 61.

Fixed to the bottom of the frame 36 is a needle bar 62 and fixed -to thebottom of the frame 37 is a needle bar 63. The construction of theseneedle bars and their needle holding devices is identical. Each of thesebars has a plurality of threaded apertures 64 therethrough, andcooperating therewith are bolts 65 to hold the bars v62 and 63 on theirrespective frames 36 and 37. Each needle bar is provided with aplurality of rows of -needles .66, and each row of needles is composedof needles arranged in pairs, each pair of needles being staggered fromthe adjacent pairs Set screws 67 and 68 are provided, the set screws 67being longer than the screws 68, and the needle bars 62 and 63 are eachprovided with 4transverse threaded recesses 69, these Vrecessesterminating adjacent to the vertical recesses through which the needles66 are inserted.

Thus when the screws 67 and '-68 are threaded inwardly, they will bindthe needles 66 in their vertical recesses, thus constituting a simpleand eicient needle holding arrangement.

It will vbe noted that each needle bar 62 and 63 is a continuous unit,and extends along the length vof their respective lframes 36 and 37. Inorder that the needle bars and `their banks of needles may be adjustedtoward or from each other, I provide, in the frame 37, an adjustingscrew 70 and an adjusting Yscrew 71. The screw 70 .bears against theoutside of the shoe 51, and on being threaded inwardly will force theshoe 51 to the opposite side of the recess 50. The vadjusting screw 71is threaded into the shoe 5l, and may CTI be operated to draw the shoe51 to the side of the 'i recess 50 at which the screw 71 is located.This vadjustment -will -increaseor `decrease the space between the banksof needles 66 within a sufficient range for all practical purposes.

From the above description it is obvious that,

.closed path, it being understood that the rotation of the crank shaft26 and cam 57 is such as to give a complete oscillatory or transversemovement to the frames 36 and 37 for each complete reciprocating motiongiven thereto.

It will also be appreciated that the speed of .travel of the fabric 72being needled, is equal to the transverse speed of the needle bars 62and 63. The needles 66 carried by the needle bars 62 .and 63, therefore,enter the base fabric carrying the fibres of the bat or web therewith,and move along `with the base fabric during the penetrating andwithdrawing movement, accomplishing this complete movement without dragor strain on either the needles or the fabric. The fabric 72 is fedthrough the machineby any suitable feeding device, such as indicated at73 in Fig. 3, said feeding device moving the fabric in a planetransversely to the movement of the banks of needles 66.

A freely mounted pressure roll'74is' mounted in suitable supports 75,the bottom of said roll being slightlybelow the top of the-bed plate 76,the roll '74 thus exerting a pressure on the fabric 72. The bed plate'76 has a central web '77, and transverse webs 7S. Secured to the top ofthe webs 78 by bolts '79 are longitudinally extending webs i 80. Thetops'of the webs 80 and webs i7 are flush with the top bed plate 76,and. provide suitable spaces to permit the entrance of the needles 66and the slight transverse Ymovement given thereto, the spaces thusprovided not being sufcient to permit any appreciable sag or bend in thefabric 72 during the needling operation.

In order to insure that thefabric will not be drawn upwardly to anymaterial extent by the needles 66 on their return stroke, Iprovidestripper elements. One of these elements comprises a plate 81 carried bythe brackets 82, and having a shaft 83 extending throughout the lengththereof on which are mounted a plurality of idler rolls At the'oppositeside of the machine a shaft 85 is carried by the arms 86 and in turncarries a roll 87 spaced approximately the same distance above the bedplate as the rolls 84; These rolls or strippers will insure against`either the mat or the base Yfabric being vraised to any material extentby the needles during their upward stroke.

vIn order to enable the needles 66 to be easily removed and replaced,'in case of breakage, I provide, at each side of the blocks 44, a fixeddog 88 mounted on aA plate 89, said plate being fixed to the standard orupright 2. Extending longitudinally through the plate S9 is a shaft 90,and fixed to said shaft 90is a dog 91, at the side of the block 44opposite the dog 88. y Also xed to the shaft 90 is a lever 92 having amanipulating handle 93 thereon. The structure as thus described isduplicated at each end-*of the machine, and in order to simultaneouslyrelease both of the dogs 91, I provide a link orconnecting .rod 94,having a yoke 95 at each end thereof, and pivot pins 96 connecting saidyokes to the levers Thus, on throwing the levers 92 to' the left, asviewed in Fig. 1,' dogs 91 will be withdrawn from operative position,permitting shafts 18 to rockin the upper ends of the posts 7, swingingthe entire casting 24, blocks 44, needle frames 36and 37, and the needlebars and needles carried thereby away from the bed plate, to theposition illu-strated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, 'Ilfie-bearing members19 will also rock with said shafts 18,

carrying the crank shaft 26 therewith, the'links 34 and 35 permittingthe driving chains" and sprockets to move with the movement ofthe crankshaft, without damage.

When the machine is swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 3, any desired needle or needles 66 may be removed from theirrespective bars and replaced. Thereupon the-machine will be swung backto normal' position, the lever 92 thrown to the right to the positionillustrated in Fig. 1, and the dogs 91 and 88 will effectually hold themachine in operative position until it is again desired to have accessto the needle banks. p v

Because of the mass formation of the needles 66, said needles willproduce a needling operation in which the fibres will be needled intoand through the base fabric at predetermined spaces or on predeterminedlines, resulting in a closely needled fabric. v

The operation of my machine is simple, and will `or desirable basefabric is being fed transversely toV the reciprocating motion 'of theneedles 66. Also assume that on the base fabric is placed a web offleece, or if desired a plurality of super-imposed webs of fleece, andthat such base fabric with the super-imposed web or webs thereonv isbeing moved at the proper speed. Power being imparted to the machine bymeans of the chains 31 and 28, the needle bars 62 and 63 will bereciprocated and oscillated in their closed path, alternately and in themanner above described. .The closed path of the needles 66 isillustrated in dotted lines at 9'7, the downward movement of the needlebeing on the side of the arrow 98, the fabric '72 moving in thedirection of the arrow 99.

The Yfeeding movement of the base fabric and super-imposed web or webswill be equal tothe lateral or transverse movement of the needles 66caused by the cam 5'7 and rollers 54 and 56. After the needles 66 ineach bar 62 and 63 have reached their lowermost position, they will thenbe withdrawn by continued rotation of the crank shaft 26 still beinglaterally moved in synchronism with the base fabric until the needles 66are withdrawn clear of the webs of eece and base fabric, the stripperelements insuring that neither the webs of fleece nor base fabric 'willbe raised from the bed plate to any appreciable extent.

It will'thusV be understood and appreciated by Y those skilled in theart. that I have devised an improved needling machine containing manynovel features and elements, and since I believe said machine, as wellas said featuresl and elements are'novel, I have, therefore, claimedsame broadly in the present application.

While I have necessarily illustrated and described my present inventionsomewhat in detail,

it will beunderstood that-I may vary the size, shape,` and arrangementof parts within reasonably wide limitswithout departing from the spiritof the invention.

My linvention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

l. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising a pairof parallel frames, a

needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needlesV carried by said bars,means to alternately reciprocate said frames, each of said frames havinga vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, a block at each end ofsaid frames, shafts in said blocks, a vertical key on Veach shaftadapted to seat in said keywaysfand means to effect a rotative movementof said shafts, whereby an orbital motion will be imparted to saidframes during their reciprocation.

I2. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising apair of parallel frames, a needle bar on 'the bottoni of each frame,needles carried by said bars,A means to alternately reciprocate saidframes, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each endthereof, a

block at each endrof said frames, shafts in said cate said frames, eachof said frameshaving a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, ablock at each end of said frames, shafts said blocks, a vertical key oneach shaft adapted to seat in said keyways, and cam operated means toeffect a rotative movement of said shafts, whereby an orbital motionwllbe imparted to said frames during their reciprocation.

4. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising a pairof parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needlescarried by said bars, means to alternately reciprocate said frames, eachof said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, ablock at each end of said frames, shafts in said blocks, a vertical keyon each shaft adapted to seat in said keyways, and cam operated means toeffect a rotative movement of said shafts through a predetermined arc,whereby an orbital motion will be imparted to said frames during theirreciprocation.

5. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair ofvertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of saidposts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at eachend thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pairof parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom .of each frame, needlescarried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keywaythereinl at each end thereof adaptedto be engaged by said keys, bearingmembers fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatablymounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft andfixed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crank shaft toeffect alternate reciprocation of said vparallel frames.

6. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair ofvertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of saidposts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixedto said 'frame at eachend thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pairof parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needlescarried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keywaytherein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearingmembers fixed to theshafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatablymounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft andxed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crank shaft toeffect alternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, all partscarried by the shafts in said posts being tiltable out of operativeposition.

'7. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair ofvertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of saidposts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at eachend thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pairof parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needlescarried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keywaytherein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearingmembers fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatablymounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft andfixed to said parallel frames, means to rotate said crank shaft toeffect alternate reciprocationy of said parallel frames, all partscarried blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needlebar on the bottom of each frame...

needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a verticalkeyway therein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys,bearing members fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaftrotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crankshaft and fixed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crankshaft to effect alternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, allparts carried by the shafts in said posts being tiltable out ofoperative position, a member fixed to said crank shaft and having aplurality of cam paths therein, a roller associated with each of saidkeyshafts and adapted to ride in said cam paths, whereby a partial rotativemovement will be imparted to said key shafts and keys to effect anorbital movement of said parallel frames during their reciprocation.

9. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair ofvertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of saidposts, a frame xed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at eachend thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pairof parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame. needlescarried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keywaytherein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearingmembers fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatablymounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft andxed to said parallel frames, means to rotate said crank shaft to effectalternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, all parts carried bythe shafts in said posts being tiltable out of operative position, amember fixed to said crank shaft and having a plurality of cam pathsther'ein, a roller associated with each of said key shafts and adaptedto ride in said cam paths, whereby a partial rotative movement will beimparted to said key'shafts and keys to effect an orbital movement ofsaid parallel frames during their reciprocation, and means to effectrelative adjustment of said needle bar carrying frames toward or fromeach other.

10. A device of the character described cornprising a frame, a worktable on the frame, vertical guides carried by the frame, means to pivotthe guides on the frame, a head slidably mounted between the guides,means to reciprocate the head vertically between the guides, and meansto reciprocate the head horizontally.

1.1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a worktable on the frame, ver` tical guides carried by the frame, a headslidably mounted between the guides, means to reciprocate the headvertically between the guides, and

vmeans to reciprocate the head horizontally.

PATRICK H. WALSH.

